Çayan, Mahir (1945-1972): Founder of the People Liberation
Party-Front of Turkey (THKP-C)

Encyclopedia of Marxism: Glossary of People

He entered in 1964 to the Faculty of the Political Sciences of the
Ankara University. He joined the Workers Party of Turkey (TIP) and the
Federation of the Clubs of Ideas (FKF) (Later, Revolutionary Youth,
Dev-GenÁ ). He led a lot of demonstrations against NATO and US
imperialism. Under the direct effect of the Cuban Revolution he
advocated in the TIP the thesis of National Democratic
Revolution. He found the THKP in 1971 and periodical Kurtulus and
organised some Urban Guerilla Actions. After the military putsch in
March 1971 THKP kidnapped the Consulate General of Israel, Ephrahim
Elrom. In 1972 to prevent the execution of Deniz Gezmis and friends,
Çayan and the leader cadres of the Party kidnapped three British
technicians who worked at a military centre. They were soon killed by
Turkish soldiers at 30 March 1972 in Kizildere.